Download e-book for iPad: Crossing the deadly ground: United States Army tactics, by Perry D. Jamieson

Guns enhanced quickly after the Civil warfare, elevating tough questions about the conflict strategies hired through the USA military. the main primary challenge used to be the dominance of the tactical shielding, while defenders safe through fieldworks may possibly convey lethal hearth from rifles and artillery opposed to attackers advancing in close-ordered traces. The vulnerability of those offensive forces as they crossed the so-called "deadly floor" in entrance of protecting positions used to be even larger with the development of armaments after the Civil warfare.

Guns stronger quickly after the Civil warfare, elevating tricky questions on the conflict strategies hired by means of the USA military. the main basic challenge was once the dominance of the tactical protective, whilst defenders safe through fieldworks may well bring lethal hearth from rifles and artillery opposed to attackers advancing in close-ordered traces.

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Extra resources for Crossing the deadly ground: United States Army tactics, 1865-1899

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Some observers judged that rifled shoulder arms had brought a decline in artillery's power, relative to infantry. " Six years later, another writer expanded on the point: "The glory of the field artillery has in a measure departed. '" A British military observer concluded in the late 1870s that infantry skirmishers could sweep artillerymen from their pieces, while field or even siege guns could make little impression against earthworks staunchly defended by breech-loaders. 33 Still other soldiers believed that the artillery was gaining in importance.

Morris believed that there were officers who in 1866 still preferred Scott's old, Mexican War-era musket tactics to Hardee's rifle tactics or, for that matter, to any other system. " Another Federal veteran, T. C. H. "48 While some officers resisted new tactics, many others ignored the subject altogether, once they had left West Point. During the late nineteenth century, military science became more complex, requiring soldiers to devote more time to staying current with professional developments, and many did not make the effort.

The tactical problem that dominated the period began to emerge during the Civil War, when defenders protected by field works delivered rifled infantry fire and deadly artillery blasts against attackers approaching in close-ordered lines. After the ghastly battles of the 1860s, improvements in weapons technology and field engineering made assaults even more dangerous than they had been for General George E. Pickett's men at Gettysburg or John Bell Hood's at Franklin. How could attackers advance across the open terrain in front of defenders who were so well armed and protected?